Display cabinet



@QL .1.1, i932. F. s. UPHAM 1,882,345

DISPLAY CABINET Filed Aug. Z5, 1951 :im m 1441.

Patented Oct. 11, 1932 UNITED STATES" PATENT ol-"Fi'ce j FRANKLIN S. UIHAM, OF DES MOINES, IOWA DISPLAY CABINET Application led August 3, 1931.

'3ro be constructed rapidly and cheaply and assembled to make an effective display cabinet in which the merchandise is readily accessible to the merchant but not so accessible as to be likely to be stolen.

.- A further object is to provide a display cabinet made in units, such as that either may be used separately or the two may be used in convenient combination.

With these and other objects in view, my

,-.':.,0 invention consists in the construction, ar-

rangement and combination of the various parts of my display cabinet, whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 shows a front elevation 0f a display cabinet embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a. detail, vertical sectional view I w taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a horizontal, sectional view taken on the line 3 3 of Figure 1. i Figure 4 is a detail sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of one of the cabinet units; and

Figure 6 is a detail, sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 4.

I shall first describe the cabinet used for displaying rouge or. powder compacts.

n This cabinet consists of two end members indicated generally at 10, which are provided at their lower parts with the forward proections 11. The end members ar-e connected .1.; y a bottom member 12, preferably set just j above the lower edges of the end members and preferably having its ends set in grooves in the end members in order to give the completed cabinet greater strength.

,e The bottom member 12 extends from the Serial N o. 554,695.

rear edges of the end members forwardl and terminates substantially short of their forward edges as shown in Figure 2. j

Adjacent the forward edge of the bottom member 12, the end members are provided with `vertical grooves 13 to receive thel edges of a glass pane `or the like 14, forming a transparent front for the cabinet.

The -forwardlyprojecting portions 11 at the lower parts ofthe end members are 6 0 connected by an inclined trayor shelf-15,

preferably set in grooves in the endmembers and inclined from its forward edge upwardly and rearwardly as shown andv terminating so as to allow freespace for the insertion and removalr of the glass 1,4. Y j

A top 16 is placed on the upper edges ofthe end members 10 as shown and is formed with an outwardly projecting flange 17 at its upper part. f p 1 The top 16 also has in its under surface a groove 18 to receive the upper' edge ofthe glass 14.

A latch member 19 is pivoted to the under surface of the bottom 12 as shownfor instance in Figure 2 and can be moved to position where it stands beneath the glass14 for holding the glass in place.l v l The shelf is provided with a series of annular recesses 20 to receive rouge or powder compact boxes 21. For this purpose, the boxes are preferably secured by screws 0r otherwise to the shelf 15, so that the boxes can not be stolen, and these boxes may be lfilled with rouge so that the customer can readily inspect the color.

I provide means whereby the display cabinet holds a stack of compact boxes behind each one of the sample boxes just referred to. The contents of each stack should, ofl course, correspond to the contents of the sample box in front of that particular stack.

I shall now describe the peculiar structure for holding these various stacks of compacts.

Y I provide a rectangular frame for mount- 95 ing in the cabinet pust described. This frame is preferably made of metal, such as a strip of iron, and is indicated generally at A.v It has the top 22, end members'23 (see dotted lines in Figure 2) and the bottom member 24. 100

f -of each holder.

Secured to the frame are rearwardly proj ecting attaching arms 25.

In the frame A, I mount a series of tubular holders B for rouge or power compacts or other merchandise. yIhese tubular holders may be made in dierent ways and are mounted for rotation in the frame.

As vhere illustrated, each holder B is made of a sheet metal cylinder 26 having a vertical slot 27, preferably extending from end to end and extending around the holder about ninety degrees. Each tubular holder has an end which may be of metal or wood. As shown, the ends are of wood, the bottom being indicated at 28, and having a reduced portion 29, fitting up into-the cylinder 26. yThe top is indicated at 30 and has a reduced portion l31 fitting down into thecylinder 26.

These tubular holders are rotatably mounted in the frame A in any suitable manner. As illustrated, the frame'A is provided with countersunkholes 32, through which are insert-ed screws 33 which extend through washers 34-and intothe wooden top and bottom members.l t

` The screw `holes `in the frame are large enough -to permit free rotation of the screws. lThe parts are so arranged that they are not Vtight and are preferably arranged so that the tubular Yholders hang from above. Y

In the construction of my improved display cabinet in the factory, the frames A are completed with the tubular holders installed therein and -then the frames and holders are placed in the cabinets and fastened.

In completing the frames, the top member is provided at what would be its front edge with notches 35, one on each sideof'each Lscrew`33 (see Figure 4)'.

Projecting upwardly from each of the tu- The when the tubular holders are rotated and are deep enough to permita full half rotation The metal adjacent the vertical edges of the vslot 27 may be turned back on itself as indicated vat 37 in Figure 4.

When the complete frame with its holders has been assembled, the whole assembly is inserted into the cabinet and screws are extended 4.through the arms 24, as indicated at L38 in Figure 2 for thereby fastening the frame in position in the cabinet. f

After'the frame is assembled in the cabinet, the glass front maybe placed in position and the cabinet completed.

In actual operation, the rotaryy tubular vmembers are rotated to :turn their slots or 4openings27 to .the rear, whereupon the compact boxes 39 may be arranged in stacks in V.the respective holders. The compact vboxes must be tilted slightly for insertion.

After theholders vhave been filled. as desired, they are rotated to bring the yslots27 lar holder. Y

to the front, whereupon the parts will be in position for displaying the inechandise. 'Ihe pins 36 and slots 35 will limit the rotary movement of the holders.

In a device of this kind, the glass sheet or pane 14 being at the front of the display cabinet will prevent any thefts from the front and a thief can not take compacts from the back without manipulating the cabinet in a way that would be obvious to the storekeeper or clerk.

The primary purpose of the cabinet, of course, is for display and for this it is very effective because the various colors of the compact devices are shown to advantage in the stacks through the glass pane.

Each stack is back-of its respective sample and access may be had to the stacks for making-deliveries by simply rotating the particu- A great advantage of astructure of Ithis kind'is the simplicity and cheapness of construction. 'Ihe expense of making and assembling the parts is very moderate.

I have shown an auxiliary or second cabi net which may be used independently or with 'the one already described. This second cabinet indicated at C is shown in perspective in Figure 5. It comprises spaced end members 40, which are connected near their lower rear .j edgesby aback member 41, set into notches in the lend member as Aindicated at 42 in :Fig-

ure 5. These end members are also connected by an inclined front member 43 `(see Figure 2) which has at its lowerend a downwardly projecting foot 44.

The downwardly projecting :portions ofthe Y members 41 and 4.3 `are provided with grooves 45 and 46 to slidably receive the ribs or flanges i7 of the top member 16.

rlhe upper part of the foot 44 Vhas va groove 47 to receive the lower end of a glassfront pane 48. Likewise the end members 40 vhave grooves '49 to receive-said glass member.

rllhe inclined front member-43is @provided with -a series of recesses 50 Vto receive lipstick packages 5l or the like and hold-theminpositionv slightlyl inclined from Avertical as shown. v

The parts heretofore describedare covered and connected by a top member 52 which is fastened to the ends 40.

When the top member is put on the space between the front 43-and the glass member V.48 forms a'closed display compartment, in which the tubes lmentioned* or any other suitable ymerchandise may be Vplaced and where such kcontainer l..shapedV in crosssection,

rl`his tray or-merchandise container, which maybe indicated generally at D has aseries Y of partitions 57. The tray D is pivoted to the end walls 40 at its loWer part on the axis of the joint between the members 55 and 56 as indicated at 58 in Figure 2.

The spring catch device 59 engages the upper edge of the wall 55 when the tray is in closed position and helps to hold it in shape and resiliently resists any opening movement.

On the tray D is a handle 60 by which it may be tilted rearwardly to allow convenient access to the contents of the various individual compartments 61.

lThis upper display cabinet is of very simple and inexpensive construction and can be used either with the lower cabinet or independently thereof.

It will be seen that changes might be readily made in the details of the arrangement and construction of the parts of my improved display cabinet structure and I intend to cover by my claims any niodiiications in structure or use of mechanical equivalents,

which may be reasonably included within their scope.

In the practical use of the first-described cabinet, it will be seen that samples are visible and also available for testing in the containers 21 supported by the member 15. The packages of the goods are also attractively displayed in stacks just back of the respective containers 21. These stacks can be readily observed through the glass 14; but are not accessible to customers. However, if a. piece of merchandise from any particular stack is requested by the customer, the merchant can rotate the proper container B until the opening slot 27 thereof faces the rear, and then can remove the proper package 39 for making the sale. Y

The container B is then rotated back to its normal position and when all the parts are in such position, no goods are accessible front or back, except in the container 2l until some parts have been adjusted.

One of the important advantages of my improved first-described cabinet arises from the use of the frame A, which can be conveniently and easily and economically assembled in the factory with its containers B and then inserted properly into the cabinet and secured in place.

It will be obvious that there can be some variation in the diameter of the respective containers B but for display purposes, I have generally found it better to use these containers in uniform sizes in the same cabinet.

The upper cabinet is conveniently operated for use. The merchant simply grasps the handle 60 and tilts the tray D rearwardly to get access to the desired merchandise. This iirst and will be there held rigidly in place, and the two cabinets then look like two portions of the same cabinet.

ferred to.

I claim as my invention: 1. In a cabinet, a pair of spaced ends, a

bottom member, a top member, a front tra-nsparent member, a display shelf arranged at the bottom of said cabinet at the front part, a substantially rectangular frame, a plurality of upright tubular containers journaled therein for rotation having vertical openings through which merchandise may be moved,

said frame being mounted in said cabinet back of the front transparent member.

2. A cabinet comprising end members, a top member, a. bottom member andA a transparent front member, a rectangular frame,

a series of tubular containers journaled in the transparent front.

In a structure of the class described, the combination of a cabinet with a supporting frame therein, a plurality of tubulai containers rotatably supported in said frame, slaid containers being provided with vertical s ots.

4. In a structure of the class described, the combination of a cabinet with a supporting frame therein, a plurality of tubular containers rotatably supported in said frame, 'd containers being provided with vertical slots, said device having means for limiting features and advanframe in the cabinet behind the rotary movement of the containers Wherei by at one limit they are in content displaying position, and at another limit are in position convenient for'content removal.

FRANKLIN S. UPHAM. 

